Stormwater Program

The City of Dover holds a permit under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). Under this permit, the City has an obligation to make efforts to improve the quality of stormwater that runs off of our streets and ultimately into waterways, such as Silver Lake and the St. Jones River.

Much of the pollution that ends up in our waterways comes from non-point sources, which are scattered sites throughout the watershed. Many of the things we do each day contribute to the pollution that ultimately enters our waterways. How we fertilize and maintain our yards, dispose of our pet waste, and wash and maintain our cars all affect the quality of the water that runs off of the land and into our water bodies.

The City of Dover is required to have a permit to discharge stormwater under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). Under this permit, the City has an obligation to make efforts, via a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP), to improve the quality of stormwater that runs off of our streets and City-owned facilities, and ultimately into waterways such as Silver Lake and the St. Jones River. The SWMP defines how the City will meet the requirements of its permit. A copy of our SWMP is provided below.

If illegal pollutants are found in your neighborhood, a door hanger will be placed at your residence to inform you about illicit discharges.An example of the door hanger can be found here:
Illicit discharge door hanger
.

Don’t pour out household cleaners, garden pesticides, antifreeze, or oil-based paints.Instead, dispose of these items properly during a weekly collection at the
Cheswold Collection Station
.

If you see someone discharging illicit waste into the storm sewer system, please notify the City of Dover: 302-736-7010 or
idde@dover.de.us
. Or in the case of an emergency notify DNREC Enforcement Crimes Hotline 800-662-8802.

To help eliminate trash entering our waterways, please put trash and recyclables into designated containers and allow the city’s sanitation division to pick-up your waste. To find the trash/recycling pick-up day for your address please utilize the following links:
Trash
/
Recycling
. Follow the directions within each link.

Below are a number of helpful links to other organizations that the City partners with. Through these partnerships we are reducing the amount of pollutants entering our streams and rivers through stormwater runoff.